The Stark army assembled by Rodrik totals less than 2,000 men.[1] It includes 600 from Winterfell and its vicinity under the command of Rodrik Cassel, 300 Cerwyns under the command of young Lord Cley Cerwyn, and a force of Tallharts under the command of Leobald Tallhart. Banners from Houses Flint, Hornwood, Karstark, and Manderly are also seen.[1] Lord Wyman Manderly sent a dozen barges packed with knights, warhorses, and siege engines up the White Knife.[8] At Winterfell Theon sees northern catapults and scorpions, but no siege towers, although there is plenty of timber in the wolfswood if need be.[1]

The Battle

Ser Rodrik Cassel and Theon Greyjoy parley in the winter town's market outside the gates of Winterfell. Rodrik demands the ironborn surrender Winterfell, and he promises safe passage for all who were not involved in the murder of children. Theon counters by having a noose put around the neck of Rodrik's daughter, Beth Cassel, and promises to hang her at dusk if he does not retreat, and he will continue to hang hostages at every dawn and dusk until they leave. The parley accomplishes nothing other than terms being given.[1]

Later as the sun sets, a force of roughly 600 Boltons from the Dreadfort arrives and meets Rodrik's Stark army. Believing the Dreadfort men to be reinforcements, Rodrik offers his hand in greeting to their helmeted leader. However, the man takes Rodrik's arm off at the elbow and reveals his identity as that of Ramsay Snow, the Bastard of Lord Bolton. Rodrik thought he had previously killed Ramsay for his crimes against House Hornwood,[10] but Ramsay had actually switched clothing with his now-deceased serving man, Reek.[1].

Although outnumbered, the Bolton force under Ramsay attacks the Stark army, leading to fighting in the streets of the winter town. From atop Winterfell's battlements, Theon, Maester Luwin, and Black Lorren watch the Dreadfort men repeatedly wheel and charge the Stark soldiers, preventing them from forming up between the town's burning houses. Cley Cerwyn is killed by an arrow to the eye, and Leobald Tallhart dies as well. While the Stark army is routed and dispersed, Ramsay loses only twenty or thirty of the Dreadfort men.[1]

As the battle winds down, Theon admits Ramsay into Winterfell, and Theon recognizes him as "Reek", who had brought back the Dreadfort's garrison, although Rodrik had slain Reek-disguised-as-Ramsay in the Hornwood. The Bolton men cut down the ironmen, sack the castle, and attack its servants, such as Maester Luwin.[1]

Aftermath

Although the battle at Winterfell is not especially bloody,[11] the hold of House Stark on the north is shattered. Most of Ser Rodrik Cassel's leaders are killed, but a good many of his common soldiers escape and return to their villages and holdfasts. However, their accounts of what happened vary.[12]